Police in Waco, Texas have arrested a teenager in connection with the shooting of a gay man. Investigators say he used a dating app to target gay men, lure them into seclusion, and then shoot them.
The Waco Tribune reports that officers have named Damarion Trammell Degrate, 17, as a suspect in connection with three different shootings of gay men on August 17. At present, prosecutors have only formally charged Degrate in one case. All three cases involve use of a fake profile on an unnamed gay dating app used to lure victims into a secluded area.
Related: Man guilty of blackmailing closeted grandad he met on Grindr
Police arrested Degrate on Friday. Charges against him state that he met his victim on the dating app on August 16. The next day, he requested a ride from his victim, who picked him up at his Landmark Drive home, where he lived with his grandmother. The pair then drove to a remote location under the auspice of buying drugs.
“After being gone for several minutes, the defendant (Degrate) returned to the vehicle where the victim was waiting, opened the passenger door and shot the victim in the chest at point-blank range,” according to legal affidavits. “The victim was able to drive off and eventually stop at a gas station less than one mile away.” Said victim remains in the hospital in critical condition.
Following the first encounter, police also allege that Degrate used the same phone to arrange a meeting with 23-year-old Jonathan Breeding about two hours later. Breeding was also shot in the chest at point-blank range, and died shortly thereafter. Investigators have further named Degrate in a third similar shooting that same night. The victim in that case was also shot in the chest after meeting his assailant on the same gay dating app.
“We identified early in the investigation a link between the three shootings and the danger this suspect presented to our community,” Interim Waco Police Chief Frank Gentsch said in a statement. “The arrest today was the result of our Special Crimes Detectives’ tireless efforts, along with our support staff, including our Crime Scene Unit and Computer Forensic Unit. I also want to thank the FBI and the United States Marshal Service for their assistance in these cases.”
“We continue to caution our citizens when using dating applications, in particular those that cater to the LGBTQ+ community,” he added. “We strongly recommend arranging online dating meetings in public venues.”
Prax07
Take him out back, shoot him in the chest, and toss him in a dumpster like the garbage it is.
Chrisk
Talk about dead eyes. There’s obviously never going to be any kind of rehabilitation for this psychopath. Hopefully they put him away for a long time.
Kangol2
He’s in Texas, this sounds like premeditated murder, they have strong evidence of his crimes, so he’ll be convicted short of any prosecutorial or police screw ups, and probably receive the death penalty.
armandov
I sincerely doubt that. I live in TX and have had the displeasure of going throguh the court system here. This is still good ‘ol boy Republican country and the fact that the victims were gay will give the perp leniency.
My2CentsWorth
Obviously a guy who had trouble with his own sexuality. Maybe where he is going to be for many years the people around him won’t mind and will enjoy, or at least get sexual release, many times.
scotty
he’ll get what he deserves in prison.
Scott
His booty is going to be worn out in Prison!
joeboyle49
WELL THATS IF THEY CONVICT HIM EVEN THO HES DONE IT BEFORE THEY MAY GO EASY ON HIM BECAUSE HIS VICTIMS WERE GAY.
Black Pegasus
He won’t do any considerable time in prison because gay lives don’t matter in the eyes of the criminal justice system. Especially Black Gay Lives.
winemaker
Simple solution. Put the bastard on trial, convict him of first degree murder, set his execution date or better yet like in the old days, take him out back and ‘dobe wall him all for the price of a few bullets. Thus saving the taxpayers the price of this slugs incarceration and upkeep. Sadly this is a warning to people using apps or on line dating. never, ever meet someone for the first time in a secluded spot. The first time you meet someone in person, do it in a bar or restaurant in case it’s not what ‘s expected, the person’s creepy or for any other reason it’s a ‘no go’., no excuses needed to bow out. All dating sites list this caveat in their ‘safe dating tips’ and is basic common sense. Hopefully the victims family gets swift justice.
Gay Thomas
The Texas death penalty is reserved for special cases. This is one of them. Hope the trial is quickly processed and the punishment painful.